So here we are. For Tennessee football fans, this is called “Gator Haters’ Week,” though, some will tell you that’s every week.
Florida fans will tell you that this is “Annual Beat Tennessee Week.” Gator fans can say that because it largely is true. Since 1984, the Vols are 6-25 against Florida.
If you are a Tennessee fan, you bet that’s frustrating.
But each year, in the middle of September, Tennessee has a chance to remedy that, though 16 of the last 17 years, it hasn’t turned out so well. Is Tennessee better this year? I’d like to think so. They rolled up 676 yards against Akron Saturday night in a 63-6 victory, more than covering the spread, for those of you interested in that type of things.
In three games, the Vols have scored 156 points and compiled 1,661 total yards. Sure, two of those games were glorfied scrimmages against overmatched opponents, but Tennessee did pick off a road win against at ranked Pittsburgh team. Tennessee is 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
All these are positive markers.
Yes, the Vols have been impressive thus far, but how much do we really know about them? In all three games, there has been a healthy mix of good and bad. Why do I feel that this team isn’t completely sharp? Even Saturday night, it seemed the Vols did a few things that waved some, at worst, yellow flags.
When you’ve lost 26 of the last 31 to your principal division rival, there isn’t much latitude for sloppy play or lack of execution. For some reason, Florida has Tennessee’s number. It’s in Tennessee’s head. Why? I don’t know. Spurrier left and the Gators were still nettlesome with the likes of Ron Zook, Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain running the show. If the Vols couldn’t right the ship against those guys, you have to wonder what’s going on.
There are times, going back to the mid 1980s, when Tennessee, with equal or superior talent, faced Florida and lost…and sometimes badly. The 1995 game comes to mind. The Vols led 30-21 at the half and were destroyed in the second half, eventually losing 62-37.
Florida seems to find a way against Tennessee.
But could the stars be lining up for the Vols? Florida has a new coach in Billy Napier and his tenure has been up and down since he arrived in Gainesville. Some wonder if he has the chops to coach in the SEC. Dan Mullen left the Gators somewhat barren in the recruiting department, so some suggest that depth may be a problem. The Gators have three pretty good running backs and a quarterback with wheels, too, in Anthony Richardson. But he’s been Jekyll and Hyde. He had 114 yards rushing in a upset victory over No. 7 Utah in the season opener and 4 rushing yards in a home loss to Kentucky.
But Tennessee’s kryptonite has been the slant pattern and running quarterbacks. But the defense has put some heat on opposing quarterbacks in all three games. If the Vols can force Richardson to pass and pressure him into mistakes, it could be a long night for the Gators. But if the Vols let him squirt loose, the same could be true for Tennessee.
Everything seems to be trending Tennessee’s way. I do believe this is a must-win game for the program. Why? It will lend vital credibility the program will need moving forward. It will further galvanize a warming, but still-cautious, fan base. It also will put the Vols into the conversation for a shot at heading to Atlanta and perhaps representing the SEC in a major bowl. The Sugar has been mentioned by pundits.
A loss could let the wind out of the sails of this program. Fans will groan that it’s the same ol’ same ol’ and the enthusiasm for what’s going on will take a major hit. Meanwhile, the pudits will heap criticism on Tennessee, calling head coach Josh Heupel gimmicky and this whole thing is smoke and mirrors.
I’ve said since the day after the Music City Bowl that I thought the Vols would win this game and go on to a 10-2 season. I’ve been very clear about that. But it is the SEC and anything can happen. If the Vols want to prove they are heading back in the right direction, Saturday is the perfect place to start. It’s time the Vols picked up a signature victory. Everything seems to be aligned for it.
Sadly, we’ve seen, too often, how this movie ends.
The time is now for this program to reverse that trend.
Jim Steele is a correspondent for Magic Valley Publishing and the host of The Pressbox radio show, which airs 4-6 p.m. CT, Monday-Thursday on 95.9 FM, WRJB, Camden, Tenn.
